The House of Czartoryski (feminine form: Czartoryska, plural: Czartoryscy; ) is a
Polish princely family of
Lithuania
Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...
n-
Ruthenian origin, also known as the
Familia. The family, which derived their kin from the
Gediminids dynasty, by the mid-17th century had split into two branches, based in the
Klevan Castle and the
Korets Castle, respectively. They used the
Czartoryski coat of arms and were a
noble family
Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the rea ...
of the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic (), was a federation, federative real union between the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ...
in the 18th century.
The Czartoryski and the
Potocki were the two most influential aristocratic families of the last decades of the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic (), was a federation, federative real union between the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ...
(1569–1795).
History
The Czartoryski family is of Lithuanian descent from
Ruthenia
''Ruthenia'' is an exonym, originally used in Medieval Latin, as one of several terms for Rus'. Originally, the term ''Rus' land'' referred to a triangular area, which mainly corresponds to the tribe of Polans in Dnieper Ukraine. ''Ruthenia' ...
. Their ancestor, a grandson of
Gediminas
Gediminas ( – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341.
He is considered the founder of Lithuania's capital Vilnius (see: Iron Wolf legend). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands from t ...
, the
Grand Duke of Lithuania
This is a list of Lithuanian monarchs who ruled Lithuania from its inception until the fall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1795. The Lithuanian monarch bore the title of Grand duke, Grand Duke, with the exception of Mindaugas, who was crown ...
, became known with his baptismal name Constantine ( 1330−1390) - he became a Prince of
Chortoryisk in
Volhynia
Volhynia or Volynia ( ; see #Names and etymology, below) is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between southeastern Poland, southwestern Belarus, and northwestern Ukraine. The borders of the region are not clearly defined, but in ...
.
[Tęgowski J. ''Który Konstanty — Olgierdowic czy Koriatowic — był przodkiem kniaziów Czartoryskich?'' // Europa Orientalis. — Toruń, 1996. — S. 53-59.] One of his sons, Vasyli Chortoryiski (Ukrainian: Чарторийський; 1375–1416), was granted an estate in Volhynia in 1393, and his three sons John, Alexander and Michael (c. 1400–1489) are considered the progenitors of the family.
The founding members were culturally
Ruthenian and
Eastern Orthodox; they converted to
Roman Catholicism and were
Polonized during the 16th century.
Michael's descendant Prince
Kazimierz Czartoryski (1674–1741), Duke of Klewan and Zukow (
Klevan and
Zhukiv), Castellan of
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...
, reawakened Czartoryski royal ambitions at the end of the 17th century. He married
Isabella Morsztyn, daughter of the
Grand Treasurer of Poland, and built
"The Familia" with their four children, Michał, August, Teodor and Konstancja. The family became known and powerful under the lead of brothers
Michał Fryderyk Czartoryski and
August Aleksander Czartoryski in the late
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic (), was a federation, federative real union between the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ...
of the 18th century, during the reigns
Augustus II the Strong (King of Poland, 1697–1706 and 1709–1733) and
Stanisław I Leszczyński (King of Poland 1704–1709 and 1733–1736). The Czartoryski had risen to power under
August Aleksander Czartoryski (1697–1782) of the Klewa line, who married
Zofia Denhoffowa, the only heir to the
Sieniawski family.
The family attained the height of its influence from the mid-18th century in the court of King
Augustus III (). The Czartoryski brothers gained a very powerful ally in their brother-in-law,
Stanisław Poniatowski, whose son became the last king of the independent Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Stanisław II August (born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski; 17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798), known also by his regnal Latin name Stanislaus II Augustus, and as Stanisław August Poniatowski (), was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuani ...
().
The Czartoryski's Familia saw the decline of the Commonwealth and the rise of
anarchy and joined the camp which was determined to press ahead with reforms; thus they sought the enactment of such constitutional reforms as the abolition of the ''
liberum veto''.
Although the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
confiscated the family estate at
Puławy in 1794, during the
third partition of Poland, the Familia continued to wield significant cultural and political influence for decades after, notably through the princes
Adam Kazimierz (1734–1823),
Adam Jerzy (1770–1861) and
Konstanty Adam (1777–1866).
The Czartoryski family is renowned for the
Czartoryski Museum in Kraków and the
Hôtel Lambert in Paris.
Today, the only descendants of Prince
Adam Jerzy Czartoryski
Adam Jerzy Czartoryski (14 January 1770 – 15 July 1861), also known as Adam George Czartoryski, was a Polish szlachta, nobleman, statesman, diplomat and author who served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Russian SFSR, Chairman of ...
are Prince
Adam Karol Czartoryski (1940- ) and his daughter Tamara Czartoryska (1978- ), who live in the United Kingdom. The descendants of Prince
Konstanty Adam Czartoryski live to this day in Poland and have their representatives in the
Confederation of the Polish Nobility.
Coat of arms and motto
The Czartoryski family used the
Czartoryski coat of arms and the motto ''Bądź co bądź'' ("Come what may", literally 'let be, that which will be'). The family's arms were a modification of the
Pogoń Litewska arms.
image:POL COA Czartoryski duży.svg, Czartoryski coat of arms used in 1785
Notable members

Notable members include:
In Poland
* Wasyl Czartoryski (died after 1416), married Hanna
** Michał Czartoryski (died before 1486), married Maria Niemir
*** Teodor Czartoryski (died 1542), married Princes
Zofia Sanguszko h. Pogoń Litewska
**** Iwan Czartoryski (died 1566), married Princess
Anna Zasławska h.
Korybut
***** Jerzy Czartoryski (1550−1626), married Princess
Aleksandra Wiśniowiecka h.
Korybut, Halszka Hołowińska h. Hołowiński and Princess Zofia Lubomirska h.
Szreniawa
****** Michał Jerzy Czartoryski (1585−1661), married Princess
Izabella Korecka h. Pogoń Litewska
******* Michał Jerzy Czartoryski (1621−1692), married Rosine Margarethe von Eckenberg,
Eufrozyna Stanisławska h.
Szeliga and
Joanna Weronika Olędzka h.
Rawa
********
Kazimierz Czartoryski (1674−1741), married Countess
Izabela Elżbieta Morsztyn h. Leliwa
*********
Michał Fryderyk Czartoryski (1696–1775), married Countess Elenora Monika Waldstein
*********
August Aleksander Czartoryski (1697−1782) married Countess
Maria Zofia Sieniawska h.
Leliwa
**********
Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski
Prince Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski (1 December 1734 – 19 March 1823) was an influential Polish aristocrat, writer, literary and theater critic, linguist, traveller and statesman. He was a great patron of arts and a candidate for the Polish cro ...
(1734–1823), married
Izabela Czartoryska h. Fleming
***********
Maria Anna Czartoryska (1768−1854), married
Louis, Duke of Württemberg
***********
Adam Jerzy Czartoryski
Adam Jerzy Czartoryski (14 January 1770 – 15 July 1861), also known as Adam George Czartoryski, was a Polish szlachta, nobleman, statesman, diplomat and author who served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Russian SFSR, Chairman of ...
(1770–1861), married Princess
Anna Zofia Sapieha h.
Lis
************
Izabella Elżbieta Czartoryska (1832–1899), married Count
Jan Kanty Działyński h.
Ogończyk
************
Witold Czartoryski (1824–1865), married
Maria Cycylia Grocholska h.
Syrokomla
************
Władysław Czartoryski
Prince Władysław (Ladislaus) Czartoryski (3 July 1828 – 23 June 1894) was a Polish noble, political activist in exile, collector of art, and founder of the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków.
Early life
Czartoryski was born in Warsaw, Congres ...
(1828–1894), married
María Amparo Muñoz, 1st Countess of Vista Alegre and
Princess Marguerite Adélaïde of Orléans
************* Beatified
August Franciszek Czartoryski (1858–1893)
*************
Adam Ludwik Czartoryski (1872–1937), married Countess
Maria Ludwika Krasińska h.
Ślepowron
**************
Elżbieta Czartoryska (1905–1989) married Count
Stefan Adam Zamoyski h. Jelita
**************
Augustyn Józef Czartoryski (1907–1946), married
Princess Maria de los Dolores of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
***************
Adam Karol Czartoryski (b. 1940), married Nora Picciotto and Josette Calil
**************** Tamara Czartoryska (b. 1978)
***********
Konstanty Adam Czartoryski (1773–1860), married Princess
Aniela Radziwiłł h.
Trąby and
Maria Dzierżanowska h.
Gozdawa
************
Jerzy Konstanty Czartoryski (1828–1912), married Maria Joanna Czermak
*************
Witold Leon Czartoryski (1864–1945), married Countess
Jadwiga Dzieduszycka h.
Sas
**************
Włodzimierz Alfons Czartoryski (1895–1975), married Countess
Zofia Tyszkiewicz h. Leliwa
*************** Professor
Paweł Czartoryski (1924–1999)
************** Beatified
Jan Franciszek Czartoryski (1897–1944)
**************
Roman Jacek Czartoryski (1898–1958), married Countess
Teresa Janina Zamoyska h. Jelita
**************
Piotr Michał Czartoryski (1908–1993), married Countess
Anna Zamoyska h. Jelita
***********
Zofia Czartoryska (1780−1873), married Count
Stanisław Kostka Zamoyski h.
Jelita
**********
Elżbieta Czartoryska (1736–1816), married
Stanisław Lubomirski h. Szreniawa
*********
Konstancja Czartoryska (1700–1759), married
Stanisław Poniatowski h.
Ciołek, mother of the last
King of Poland
Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of Royal elections in Poland, free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electab ...
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Stanisław II August (born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski; 17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798), known also by his regnal Latin name Stanislaus II Augustus, and as Stanisław August Poniatowski (), was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuani ...
In Hungary
* Piotr Czartoryski ( wife: Lázár Mária)
*
Mária Lázár (b. Mária Czartoriska) (1895–1983), actress ( mother: Lázár Mária)
* Serbán Ivánné (b. Magdolna Irén Czartoryska (mother: Lázár Mária)
* sons of Magdolna Iren Czartoryska
* Wachtel Elemér
* Wachtel Domonkos
* Dr Czartoryski Jenö (mother: Lázár Maria)
* sons of Jenö Czartoryski
* Adam Czartoryski born Budapest, Uppsala, Sweden
* Ivan Czartoryski born Budapest, Uppsala, Sweden, architect
Palaces
file:2008 08050029 - Gołuchów - zespół zamkowy - zamek.JPG, Gołuchów Castle
file:Puławy, Pałac Czartoryskich (02).jpg, Czartoryski Palace in Puławy
file:Pałac Czartoryskich w Lublinie (2008-11-22).JPG, Czartoryski Palace in Lublin
Lublin is List of cities and towns in Poland, the ninth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest city of historical Lesser Poland. It is the capital and the centre of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 336,339 (December 2021). Lublin i ...
file:Czartoryski Palace, 17-19 świętego Jana street, Old Town, Kraków, Poland.jpg, Czartoryski Museum in Kraków
, officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...
file:Pałac w Sieniawie.JPG, Czartoryski Palace in Sieniawa
file:Pałac w Konarzewie-front.jpg,
file:Rokosowo pałac 1847 01.JPG, Palace in Rokosowo
file:Palac w Baszkowie.JPG, Palace in Baszków, Łódź Voivodeship
file:Pelkinie palac.jpg, Palace in Pełkinie
file:Palac oginskich.JPG, Siedlce Palace
file:Międzyrzec podlaski pałac czartoryskich.jpg, Palace in Międzyrzec Podlaski
file:Warszawa pałac Potockich 2009.jpg, Potocki Palace, Warsaw
The Potocki Palace (, ) is a large baroque palace in Warsaw, located at Krakowskie Przedmieście 15, directly opposite the Presidential Palace, Warsaw, Presidential Palace. It was originally built for the Denhoff family and in the late 18th centur ...
file:Wawa Blekitny1DSC 0853.JPG, The Blue Palace, Warsaw
file:Wilanów Palace.jpg, Wilanów Palace
Wilanów Palace (, ) is a former royal palace located in the Wilanów district of Warsaw, Poland. It was built between 1677 and 1696 for the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania John III Sobieski according to a design by architect Augustyn ...
file:Palac Potockich w Natolinie 01.jpg, Natolin Palace
file:Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Kalwarii Zebrzydowskiej.JPG, Former Czartoryski Palace in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (rebuild)
File:Pulawy swiatynia sybilli.jpg, Temple of the Sibyl, 18th century museum in Puławy
image:Руїни замку Чорторийських. Чорторийськ. Rujiny zamku Čortoryjśkyx. Čortoryjśk.png, Ruins of the Castle of Czartorysk
image:Корецький замок(2009).jpg, Ruins of the Castle of Korets
file:Voŭčyn, Čartaryjski. Воўчын, Чартарыйскі (I. Ryškievič, 1898).jpg, Ruins of the Czartoryski Palace in Wołczyn (1898)
file:Medzhybizh Castle (Меджибіж).JPG, Castle of Medzhybizh
file:Berezhany zamok.jpg, Ruins of the Castle of Berezhany
Berezhany ( ; ; ; , ''Bzhezhani''/''Bzhizhani'') is a small List of cities in Ukraine, city in Ternopil Raion, Ternopil Oblast, western Ukraine. It lies about from the administrative center of the oblast, Ternopil. Berezhany hosts the administr ...
file:Клеванський замок.jpg, Ruins of the Castle of Klevan
See also
*
Czartoryska (disambiguation page for female members of the family)
*
Princely Houses of Poland
*
Familia
*
Czartoryski Museum
*
Royal Casket
*
Czartoryski-Schlössel
*
Hôtel Lambert
*
Princes Czartoryski Foundation
*
List of titled noble families in the Kingdom of Hungary
References
*
External links
*
Czartoryskiat the
Encyclopedia of Ukraine
The ''Encyclopedia of Ukraine'' (), published from 1984 to 2001, is a fundamental work of Ukrainian Studies.
Development
The work was created under the auspices of the Shevchenko Scientific Society in Europe (Sarcelles, near Paris). As the ...
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